Justice Dept Revives Ancient Sea Law | US News

The Justice Department is reviving ancient wartime maritime laws to justify seizing ships linked to Venezuela and Iran, turning to prize law—a rarely used legal tool that grants the government permanent ownership of seized vessels without time limits. This move, sparked by the Trump administration, targets tankers intercepted for violating quarantine or sanctions, offering a stronger legal basis than civil forfeiture. But with decades of legal precedent left behind and few lawyers trained in prize law, the strategy faces steep hurdles—including potential lawsuits over blockades and concerns that other nations might follow suit. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0ce253bb2cd491d8